This wonderfully preserved “Brush Knife”
belonged to PFC. Wm. M. Mears, 19135664. He was stationed with the Headquarters
Battalion, DIVARTY. He was born in 1919 and enlisted at age 23 in 1942. With a
recorded three years of college he was probably better educated than many of
the men his age. Most likely that education landed him his position with the
JAG (Judge Advocate General) Department. The 1st Armored Division Artillery (DIVARTY)
is the divisional artillery command for the 1st Armored Division normally
stationed at Fort Bliss. The DIVARTY served with the division in World
War II.
One of the most exciting parts of this
purchase was the shipping container. Suffering a few splits, occurring over the
last 70 years, the bamboo that was used as a shipping tube has held up quite
well. The knife has been well cared for and there is no rust on the hand forged
blade. The buffalo horn handle is iron mounted and has a full length tang which
is peened over on the butt cap. It remains tight and without and cracks. The
bamboo tube contained the knife housed in its rather crude wooden scabbard. The
scabbard has several cracks, either from age or shrinkage. The outside of thte
bamboo was wrapped with a parchment type paper and still has military
inspection marks, the shipping and return address. The labeling is rife with valuable
information. Mear’s APO 25 address places
him somewhere in the Phillipine Islands, which certainly provided him with the
opportunity to buy this fine brush knife, better known as a barong. It would be
more dramatic to envision Wm. Mears hacking his way through the jungle,
tracking down Japanese soldiers, but being assigned to JAG he probably spent
most of his life behind a desk.
Back in 1970 while in route to the island of Diego Garcia we made a refueling stop at Clark Air Force base in the Filipines. Imagine the Commanding Officers comments when we re-boarded and I had led a buying spree wherein we cleaned out the local bolo knife maker. The CO was a good sport and did not make us take them back.
Back in 1970 while in route to the island of Diego Garcia we made a refueling stop at Clark Air Force base in the Filipines. Imagine the Commanding Officers comments when we re-boarded and I had led a buying spree wherein we cleaned out the local bolo knife maker. The CO was a good sport and did not make us take them back.
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